KOTOWAZA: Japanese Proverbs You Should Know

諺 (ことわざ / kotowaza) is a Japanese proverb. Many ことわざ were derived from old Chinese proverbs but some have Japanese cultural influences.

You may come across ことわざ on places like Japanese TV or on the internet. They are so commonly used that they are not just reserved for casual conversations.

Normally, ことわざ provides you with some form of life advice beyond its literal meaning.

In this post, I will show you some proverbs whose messages you may find relatable.

千里の道も一歩から / senri no michi mo ippo kara

千里の道も一歩から / senri no michi mo ippo kara = The road of a thousand miles starts from the first step

石の上にも三年 / ishi no ue nimo san nen

石の上にも三年 / ishi no ue nimo san nen = Sit upon a rock for three years, and you’ll start to get warm = perseverance prevails

七転び八起き / nana korobi ya oki

七転び八起き / nana korobi ya oki = If you get knocked down seven times, get up eight times

能ある鷹は爪を隠す / nō aru taka wa tsume o kakusu

能ある鷹は爪を隠す / nō aru taka wa tsume o kakusu = The wise eagle hides its talons = Who knows most, speaks least.

郷に入っては郷に従え / gō ni haitte wa gō ni shitagae

郷に入っては郷に従え / gō ni haitte wa gō ni shitagae = When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

花より団子 / hana yori dango

花より団子 / hana yori dango = Cake before flowers = substance over appearance

案ずるより産むが易し / anzuru yori umu ga yasushi

案ずるより産むが易し / anzuru yori umu ga yasushi = Giving a birth is easier than worrying about it = Fear is greater than the danger

出る杭は打たれる / deru kugi wa utareru

出る杭は打たれる / deru kugi wa utareru = The stake that sticks gets hammered down = If you stand out, you will be subject to criticism

猿も木から落ちる / saru mo ki kara ochiru

猿も木から落ちる / saru mo ki kara ochiru = Even monkeys fall from trees = anyone can make a mistake